1. Operating Systems and File Management

2. Chapter Contents Section A: Operating System Basics
Section B: Today’s Operating Systems
Section C: File Basics
Section D: File Management
Section E: Backup Security
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3. Operating System Basics
Operating System Activities
User Interfaces
The Boot Process
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4. Operating System Activities
An operating system is a type of system software that acts as the master controller for all activities that take place within a computer system
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5. Operating System Activities
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6. Operating System Activities
Multitasking provides process and memory management services that allow two or more tasks, jobs, or programs to run simultaneously
Within a single program, multithreading allows multiple parts, or threads, to run simultaneously
An operating system’s multiprocessing capability supports a division of labor among all the processing units
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7. Operating System Activities
Operating System Categories
Single-user operating system
Multiuser operating system
Server operating system
Desktop operating system
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8. User Interfaces
The combination of hardware and software that helps people and computers communicate with each other
Figures 4-7 and 4-8
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9. User Interfaces Menus, submenus, and dialog boxes
Figures 4-10 and 4-11
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10. The Boot Process
During the boot process, the operating system kernel is loaded into RAM
The kernel provides essential operating system services
Your computer’s small bootstrap program is built into special ROM circuitry housed in the computer’s system unit
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11. The Boot Process Chapter 4: Operating Systems and File Management 11
Figure 4-13
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12. Today’s Operating Systems
Microsoft Windows
Mac OS
UNIX and Linux
DOS
Handheld Operating Systems
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13. Microsoft Windows Chapter 4: Operating Systems and File Management 13
Figure 4-14
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14. Mac OS You can tell when you’re using Mac OS by the Apple logo that
appears on the menu bar. The
Mac OS X interface includes all
the standard elements of a GUI,
including icons, menus,
windows, and taskbars.
Figures 4-17
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15. Mac OS On a Macintosh computer with Boot Camp, you can boot
into Mac OS X or
into Windows.
Figure 4-19
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16. Mac OS
Mac OS X on an Intel Mac offers the ability to run Windows and Windows application software in addition to software designed for the Macintosh
Dual boot
Figure 4-20
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17. UNIX and Linux
Several Web sites offer a Linux distribution, which is a package that contains the Linux kernel, system utilities, applications, and an installation routine
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18. UNIX and Linux Linux users can choose from
several graphical interfaces.
Pictured here is the popular
KDE graphical desktop.
Figure 4-21
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19. DOS Disk Operating System First operating system that many used
Figure 4-22
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20. Handheld Operating Systems
Figure 4-23
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21. File Basics File Names and Extensions File Directories and Folders
File Formats
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22. File Names and Extensions
You must adhere to file-naming conventions when saving files
Maximum length
Prohibited characters
No reserved words
Case sensitivity
File extensions are usually related to the file format
Native file format
Figure 4-24
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23. File Directories and Folders
An operating system maintains a directory for each disk, tape, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive
Root directory
Subdirectory
Depicted as folders
A computer’s file location is defined by a file specification, or path
C:\Music\Reggae\Marley One Love.mp3
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24. File Formats
Windows uses a file association list to link a file extension to its corresponding application software
Although a file extension is a good indicator of a file’s format, it does not really define the format
A file header is a section of data at the beginning of a file that contains information about a file
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25. File Formats
A software application can open files that exist in its native file format, plus several additional file formats
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26. File Formats An easy way to convert a file
from one format to another is
to open it with an application
that supports both file formats,
and then use the Save As dialog
box to select an alternative
file format.
Figure 4-32 (movie)
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27. File Management Application-based File Management
File Management Utilities
File Management Metaphors
Windows Explorer
File Management Tips
Physical File Storage
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28. Application-based File Management
Applications typically provide a way to open files and save them in a specific folder on a storage device
Figures 4-33 and 4-34
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29. Application-based File Management
The Save As dialog box
of most Windows applications uses the
operating system’s file
management utility, so
you can carry out a wide
variety of file and folder
tasks such as creating,
renaming, and deleting
files.
Figure 4-35
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30. File Management Utilities
File management utilities show you the files stored on your disks and help you work with them
Figure 4-36
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31. File Management Metaphors
Storage metaphors help you visualize and mentally organize the files on your disks
Logical storage models
Figures 4-37 and 4-38
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32. Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer makes it easy to drill down through the levels of the directory hierarchy to locate a folder or file.
Figure 4-39
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33. Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer allows you to manipulate files and folders in the following ways:
Rename
Copy
Move
Delete
Figure 4-40
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34. File Management Tips Use descriptive names Maintain file extensions
Group similar files
Organize your folders from the top down
Consider using the default folders
Do not mix data files and program files
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35. File Management Tips Don’t store files in the root directory
Access files from the hard disk
Follow copyright rules
Delete or archive files you no longer need
Be aware of storage locations
Back up
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36. Physical File Storage
The physical storage model describes what happens on the disks and in the circuits when files are stored
Storage media must be formatted before it can store files
Formatting utilities divide the disk into tracks and sectors
Figure 4-42
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37. Physical File Storage
CDs and DVDs can be created using mastering or packet-writing techniques. Mastering creates disks that can be used more reliably on a wide variety
of computers and standalone players. Packet writing is more flexible for disks that you plan to
use only on your own computer.
Figure 4-43
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38. Physical File Storage
The file system keeps track of the names and locations of files
NTFS
Master File Table (MFT)
FAT32
File Allocation Table (FAT)
Figure 4-44
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39. Physical File Storage
Deleting a file changes the status of that file’s clusters to empty and removes the file name from the index file
The file’s data is still there
File shredder software overwrites “empty” sectors with random 1s and 0s
Files in the Windows Recycle Bin and similar utilities can be undeleted
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40. Physical File Storage
Fragmented files are stored in noncontiguous clusters and decrease performance
Defragmentation utilities rearrange files so that they are stored in contiguous clusters
Figure 4-45
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41. Backup Security Backup Basics Data File Backup System Backup
Boot and Recovery Disks
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42. Backup Basics
A backup stores the files needed to recover data that’s been wiped out by operator error, viruses, or hardware failures
Figure 4-46
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43. Backup Basics
Your backup schedule depends on how much data you can afford to lose
You should run an up-to-date virus check as the first step in your backup routine
The backup device you select depends on the value of your data, your current equipment, and your budget
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44. Backup Basics Chapter 4: Operating Systems and File Management 44
Figure 4-48
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45. Data File Backup
Most computers are equipped with a writable CD or DVD drive with adequate storage capacity for a typical computer owner’s data files
Store all files to be backed up in the same location
Back up Internet connection information, folders, address book, favorite URLs, downloads and validation codes, and other configuration information
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46. Data File Backup
To restore from a data file backup, you simply copy files from your backup to your hard disk
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47. System Backup To make a backup, you can use backup software
Backup software is supplied with most tape drives and other backup devices
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48. System Backup Chapter 4: Operating Systems and File Management 48
Figure 4-51
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49. System Backup
A full backup makes a fresh copy of every file in the folders you’ve specified for the backup
A differential backup makes a backup of only those files that were added or changed since your last full backup session
An incremental backup makes a backup of the files that were added or changed since the last backup—not necessarily the files that changed from the last full backup
Most experts recommend that you keep more than one set of backups
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50. System Backup Restore points back up personal
preferences and configuration settings stored in the Windows Registry. You can manually create restore points or let Windows create them automatically whenever you
add new software or hardware.
Figure 4-52
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51. Boot and Recovery Disks
A boot disk is a removable storage medium containing the operating system files needed to boot your computer without accessing the hard disk
Windows Installation CD
Figure 4-53
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52. Boot and Recovery Disks
A recovery disk loads hardware drivers and user settings as well as the operating system
Sometimes included with new computer systems
Available on the Web
Recovery partition
Figure 4-55
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53. Boot and Recovery Disks
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54. Boot and Recovery Disks
You can create a custom recovery CD that contains your computer’s current settings and device drivers
Norton Ghost is a product of Symantec, which also provides a more specialized recovery disk called the Symantec Recovery Disk
Certain PC manufacturers have pre-installed Norton Ghost and the recovery environment on some of their computers
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